The Spirit Chapel Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Teaching by Mark Grice, the lead Pastor of Spirit Chapel -- A naturally uncomplicated way of explaining how God intersects with our lives.
Last week we set up the premise for this series: That it is up to us to get the "soil" -- which is our heart -- ready for the fruit of the spirit. So, how do we stop growing weeds like anger, bitterness, and disappointment? We look at the first step to ending Satan's foothold in our lives... and the first step to living Life abundantly
Sure, everyone else is talking about New Beginnings… but we’re looking at “New Endings” — and talking about the things that we have in our life that simply have to end in the year 2020 if we are ever to get where we want to be with the Lord. To start the discussion, we look at a very familiar story through new eyes…
It’s the week after Christmas. Too early to do a sermon on New Beginnings and Resolutions. Too late for Christmas… so instead we look at what happens AFTER the Christmas manger scene… When Joseph had to flee to Egypt to save baby Jesus’ life. And we discuss the importance of Egypt in the believer’s life.
Sometimes we think of Christianity as a religion of Destination… it’s what determines how we will spend eternity. The church seems to have spent much of its time talking about that, and is how evangelism used to be done… the famous: “Turn or Burn” sermons. But, Jesus speaks of a walk with him that is not about just the destination, but about the journey. How do we do that well?
Have you ever done something that you felt led by God to do… and it failed? Have you spent hours asking God: “Where were you? I thought we were in this together, and you abandoned me?” Today Pastor Grice walks us through what happened when he recommitted his life to Jesus, and then everything blew up — and what he ultimately learned from his failure.
Which seems more weird: Self-proclaimed Atheists who continue to live as though God is real? Or self-proclaimed Christians who continue to live as though He isn’t? This is the purpose of the Jesus Razor — it is designed to cut through deception.
It seems most of the modern day Christian teaching centers around Faith. If your Faith is right, everything will work out fine... But, the Old Testament barely even mentions faith, and Jesus taught about "The Heart" as much as he does "Faith." Is having a right heart a forgotten teaching of the church? And if it is so important, how do you set your heart towards God?
We tend to divide our lives into compartments: there is the work compartment, the home compartment, the family compartment, the church compartment? But is it possible to keep the God of the universe in a compartment in our lives?
It's our anniversary -- and we're starting a new (old) series. This series is based on the first sermon ever preached at Spirit Chapel -- exactly 6 years ago. It is part testimony, part theology, and part movies, as Pastor Mark walks us through critical decisions made that were made -- sometimes for the better, and sometimes not. It's an honest look at the journey that lead to Spirit Chapel in a way that should be applicable to anyone's Christian Journey.
We reach the part of Abraham's faith that seem unfathomable to us -- the sacrifice of Isaac. How did Abraham get to this kind of faith, where he was willing to trust God with everything in his life? How can we build this kind of faith?
We are called to be faithful. We are called to be righteous. But, we are also called to be God's friend. What do you do with your friends that you never do with God? How about sharing a laugh? Is it OK to laugh with God? (Hint: Who do you think invented humor to begin with?)
Sometimes, just when it seems we are improving and getting better, something from our past grabs us and holds us back. The good news is that we are not alone. It happens to some of the greats in the Bible. And, by studying them, we can learn our best way forward.
Sometimes we make a decision that affects us for the rest of our life -- not because it is so monumental that it can't be undone -- but because it sets us down a path that we never seem to realize we can leave. The momentum is what destroys us. But, how do we get off of the destructive path before it destroys us?
Why do you want great Faith as a Christian? Do you think God cares what we do with our Faith? Maybe we can't have faith like Abraham until we have some other characteristics of this "Father of Faith"
The Christian religion runs on Faith. We need faith to believe. We need faith to pray. We Need faith for everything. So... where do we get this faith? Every televangelist seems to have an answer for that. But what if they are all wrong? What about if real faith looks nothing like what we were taught it does?
How can we live a life of faith when we keep making huge mistakes? Do we ever reach a point where our screw-up is so big, God can't even use us anymore? If Abraham can make a huge mistake like he does in this week's lesson, what hope is there for us? Is there any way of avoiding these colossal errors that threaten to derail our whole life? How do we make it back to God after creating an Ishmael?
Abraham comes off one of the greatest military victories in the Bible. He has done — alone — what five kings failed to accomplish. And when he gets back home, God comes to him with an odd message: “Don’t be afraid, Abraham.” What did God know that we missed? Why does fear often follow our greatest victories?
Suddenly, the story in Genesis shifts to a battle between 9 kings — none of them named Abraham. But this story shows how far Abraham has come in his friendship with God. Because what he does next is something that Hollywood couldn’t have dreamed up…
Abraham is back in the Promised land. And he has learned a lot from his time in Egypt. We see what a man of faith does when he finds his way back to God’s Promise. And it is a lesson for us all.
No sooner does Abraham arrive at the Promised Land, than he faces his first test. And he doesn’t do well. Would any of us? How did you do when you faced “The Famine Test?”
Abraham responds to God’s call on his life. And his journey is marked by three things: A Tent, And Altar, And “Calling on the Name of the Lord?” What do these mean for the person today trying to learn how to “Walk by Faith?”
We start a series about the life of Abraham, known as "The Father of Faith." He is such a critical figure in the bible, from Genesis all of the way through the New Testament. What does God want us to learn from the life of this pivotal life captured in the bible?
In the final sermon in this series, we get down to some of the nuts and bolts of the prophetic word in the church today. And we learn how to examine it so that we don’t get deceived by human emotions being mixed with God’s revelation
If we are not hearing God speak to us, it could be that he no longer speaks, as some believe. Or it could be that we are not listening. Are there things we do that make it hard, if not impossible, for us to hear the voice of God?
God never changes, and his word is also unchangeable. These are undeniable tenants of the Christian faith. But does that God’s relationship with his people is unchanged? Could the role of the prophecy be different today than it was when Elijah walked the earth? And if so, what does this mean for the modern day church?
There are so many questions about the prophetic gifts. Many believe they no longer exist. Some are convinced they do. Most Christians seem unsure. We take an honest look at the scriptures to answer this very critical question: Does God still speak to us today?
We finish our series on the armor of God by looking that the one weapon we have: The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And, of course, everyone knows that the Word of God means the bible... but what if everyone is wrong? What if Paul is telling us something more than just "You need to read your bible...?" We look at the real meaning behind Paul's brilliant metaphor.
The Helmet protects the head, and for us most importantly the mind. We all want our mind protected from spiritual attacks… But, how is it that Salvation is supposed to protect out mind? Are there “mind tricks” we need to learn? How does salvation play into that? BIBLE REFERENCES: Ephesians 6:13-17; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:1-2; Romans 8:1-2; Judges 6:12-15; Judges 7:9-14; 2 Chronicles 16:9; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, 13-14, 16-18; Proverbs 12:28; Hebrews 13:5; Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 26:2.
The Shield of Faith is supposed to protect us from the attacks of Satan. How does that work? Is there something we need to do in order to use this shield in our lives? Or does it protect us without our knowing? And what does an arrow fired from the spiritual world look like in the physical world? BIBLE REFERENCES: Ephesians 6:13-16; 1 Corinthians 12:9; Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 17:19-20; Hebrews 11:1; Romans 4:3, 17-22; Genesis 17:15-23; James 2:17-18, 21-24; 1 Samuel 17:36-37; Luke 16:10-11; Luke 17:5-10; 2 Timothy 1:5-7.
The shoes carry the soldier forward into battle. Without shoes you might be able to stand and defend, but you will never be able to go on the attack. Paul calls these the Gospel Shoes. How does this fit into our life? How does the Gospel prepare us to go on the march against the enemy? BIBLE REFERENCES: Ephesians 6:13-15; Isaiah 52:7; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; Deuteronomy 11:26-28; Jeremiah 7:23; Psalm 19:7-10; John 14:14-17.
Continuing in the God’s Armor, we move to the “Breastplate of Righteousness.” You don’t have to be a Seminary Student to see the symbolism Paul is invoking here: The breastplate protects the most important part of the soldier — the heart. But how do we get the righteousness that protects? Is it just following a bunch of rules that they give us at church? The answer is — no, not even close. BIBLE REFERENCES: Ephesians 6:13-14; Romans 3:11-12; Revelation 22:11-12; Matthew 6:24; Romans 3:11-12; Matthew 15:8-9; John 12:42-43; Luke 9:23; Psalm 139:1-4, 23.
We finish up the discussion of the “Belt of Truth” with looking at the final purpose of God’s truth in our lives: God’s Truth comes to convict. This does not mean condemn. And the difference is important…BIBLE REFERENCES: Ephesians 6:13-14; John 16:13; John 16:6; Psalm 26:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; James 5:13; Luke 11:2-5; 2 Corinthians 2:10; Hebrews 4:12; Habakkuk 2:1; John 4:23-24 2 Timothy 1:7; Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 2:10; James 4:6-8.
The Belt of Truth, as we learned in the previous sermon, is the center of everything. But it does far more than that for the Christian warrior. It also protects us from falsehood. Falsehood that attacks us has a special name: Deception. And we must guard against it because it can enter our lives in insidious ways.
We start looking into the passage in Ephesians discussing God's Armor, and we start where the Apostle Paul starts: With Truth. And to illustrate the point, Pastor Grice shares a very personal story from his past. You might need a kleenex for this one. "I'm not crying -- you're crying!"
60% of Christians don’t believe there is a Devil. That’s CHRISTIANS. Not Americans. That even holds true for many preachers. One megachurch preacher recently said in a sermon: “Don’t get too freaked out about the demon thing. Back in those days, everything was a demon. If a person sneezed, they thought he had a demon.” Is the Christian teaching of the Devil something that we need to adjust, now that we know about things like mental disorders and other medical science? Or is something else going on that we should know about?
“He is Risen!” “He is Risen, Indeed!” That is the classic greeting in churches on Easter morning. But, honestly, how many people would respond the same way a month after Easter has come and gone? Does the fact that Jesus rose from the grave mean anything to most people as they go about their daily lives? Isn’t the resurrection really something for later… when it’s time to die and be judged? Or are we missing something incredibly important about the Messiah?
What is Sin, really? Is it just some old concept that the church invented so it could control morality? Has the definition of Sin changed over the years? And if it is a horrible affliction that is destroying us and our world, why can’t we ever seem to get it out of our lives? Here’s an honest look at Sin, and why it never seems to go away.
Have you ever wondered what the point of Christianity is? You turn to Jesus at some point, but still struggle with the same sin that you did when you didn’t know Jesus? It’s like the same thing happening over and over again? Maybe we are finding it hard to live as a Christian because our approach to it is all wrong…
We finish the study of what other churches teach about the holy spirit, this time looking at the group that says the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit have all ceased. Since this comes from the largest protestant denomination in America, it must mean that they are right. Doesn’t it? Well, does McDonalds serving billions and billions mean that they have the best burgers? As always, we will follow the truth where it leads…
We move to the other side of the divide over the Holy Spirit -- The Spirit Deniers. These are the Christians who believe the Holy Spirit has moved into a background role, and no longer moves in miraculous ways. But if the Holy Spirit no longer moves or speaks in our lives, what do we use for guidance?
Is it possible that all of the prayers you are praying are suppose to be answered? And that you don’t see miracles because of doubt in your life? What if you could just “win the battlefield for your mind” and that would allow you to see miracles again? We look in depth at one of the most dangerous teachings that has crept into the church.
In the second part of the Holy Spirit teaching, we look at one of the biggest dangers in trying to have a Christian walk that is all about Experiencing God. Ironically, it ends up leading us away from God.
This week we move to the third member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. The belief and teaching about the Holy Spirit is probably the most divisive topic in the Christian church today, and that’s probably not an accident: The Adversary knows what happens when the Holy Spirit anoints a group of believers — after all, that’s how we got the Christian Church in the first place. In the first of 2 parts, Pastor Mark looks at the Holy Spirit from the perspective of what Jesus Christ told us about Him.
Be honest — you see the sermon is just about Jesus, and you’re thinking about skipping it, aren’t you? “I need a sermon that’s going to help me with me life,” you think. “Where’s the sermon about hearing God’s voice, or praying through problems, or seeing miracles?” And that’s the problem. That’s why we spend our lives not hearing God’s voice, not knowing how to pray, and not seeing Miracles. Because we have forgotten who we are…BIBLE REFERENCES: Philippians 2:9-11; John 12:31-33; Revelation 3:7-8; Luke 4:16-21; Matthew 11:2-6; Philippians 2:5-7; Luke 5:17; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; John 8:31-36; Luke 13:10-18; Mark 8:15-18; Ephesians 3:20-21.
We turn our attention now to the idea that Christianity believes in one God in Three Persons. And the person that we start with is: God the Father. What do we know of Him, really? And more importantly, what is it that we MUST know to have any kind of a relationship with him?
OK, so you’re a Christian… why? Have you ever thought about your decision? Or did you accept a “Hand-Me-Down” religion from someone else? Is it OK to ask the question: “How do I know my Religion is true?” Or does that show a lack of faith? We take an honest look at an important question: “What makes you think Christianity is the One True Religion?”
Too often, we accept our religious beliefs from someone else. But to be true followers of Jesus Christ, we can’t accept a “hand me down” religion. We have to know what we believe and why. Yes, Christianity — like any Religion — eventually requires a “leap of faith” — but there is no need to start off the journey by leaping. The Bible tells us that knowledge of God is instinctive. Have you taken the steps to understand why you believe what you believe?
It is a very natural thing to look at the people around us to see how we are doing. We are taught at a very young age to compare ourselves — in kindergarten it starts. Sometimes sooner if we had older siblings. It continues into our job. Advertising is based upon it “Do you have the new iPhone yet? Why not? Look at all of these people in line to get it already!” We even take it into the church. How are the other people dressing? Are they raising their hands when they sing? When that person prays they sound so much better than I do… And all of this robs us of our true Christian walk. Because, as it turns out, God doesn’t care what the person next to you is doing. He only wants you to follow him. With God, it isn’t a one-size-fits all thing. Everyone’s walk is personal.
Why do people reject the Bible? Why do so many people — maybe even us if we admit it — want the Bible to be wrong? And what happens when we start taking passages out that we “just don’t get?”
At some point, anyone who is told the Bible is the inerrant word of God asks one question: "Really -- I'm supposed to believe that?" So many people are saying there are errors in it. It was written so many years ago. Can a reasonable person honestly look at the Bible and think: "Yep, every word of this is inspired." We take a very honest look at the Bible and whether it should be treated as the perfectly inspired word of God.
What's your opinion of the Bible? Do you "Love" it? Do you find it frustrating? Or Boring? Just how do you honestly feel about the Bible and what preachers keep telling you about it? It's time for an honest look.
Sometimes we want to do great things so badly that we forget to ask God what it is He actually wants from us. He has done amazing feats throughout history by using some of the most insignificant things we can imagine. When will we learn…? Our God is great so we don’t have to be… BIBLE REFERENCES: Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 8:18-20; Revelation 21:3-5; Isaiah 49:15-16; Psalm 56:8; Revelation 3:15-17,20.
The Angels make a dramatic appearance in the Christmas story. Why? And just who are the angels, anyway? There seem to be so many legends, stories, and fables around these heavenly creatures… what is real and what is just fancy story telling? Can we believe in angels? BIBLE REFERENCES: Luke 2:9-11, 13-14; Job 38:4,7; Genesis 1:23-27; Isaiah 6:2-3; Ezekiel 1:27; Ezekiel 41:18; Hebrews 13:2; Revelation 12:3-4; Joshua 5:13-14; Isaiah 37:36; Psalm 91:11-12; Jude 1:8-10; Luke 10:17-19; Acts 19:13-14; Colossians 2:18; Jude 1:5-6; Psalm 8:3-5; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 1 Peter 1:10-12.
Jesus was born, wrapped in cloths, and laid in a manger. Everyone knows that. But why? Why not a palace? Why not a Temple? Is there maybe a greater reason for Jesus being born where he was? Did God answer a 490 year old prayer? (Seventy times seven…) BIBLE REFERENCES: Luke 2:6-7; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 5:7-10; 1 Samuel 22:1-2; 2 Samuel 23:13-17; Luke 9:62; Leviticus 23:10, 12-14; Genesis 35:14; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; John 4:10-12.
Emmanuel — God with us. It is at the heart of the Christmas story. We all know that it comes from the Bible — but would it surprise you to know that it was originally said in anger? We think of Emmanuel as a name of little baby Jesus, but it is so much more more than that. And there is a reason some people really don’t like it… BIBLE REFERENCES: Matthew 1:22-23; 2 Samuel 7:8-13; 2 Kings 16:1-4; Isaiah 7:1-2, 4, 7, 9-12; 2 Timothy 1:5-7; Isaiah 7:13-16; Malachi 4:5-6; Psalms 51:10-11; Psalm 139:1-12; John 4:23.
We start a special Christmas series that delves into some of the detail and background of our cherished Christmas traditions. Where does this stuff come from? Is there symbolism that we have missed for years that can give us a better glimpse of the Birth of Jesus? We start off with a look at the phrase: "Silent Night" and how this actually comes from something known as: "The 400 years of Silence."
Do you ever feel like God has called you to work in a hopeless cause? Do you get the feeling that what you are doing doesn't matter, and the people you are trying to reach are unreachable? What if they are... but God wants you to do it anyway? Are we willing to do what God needs us to do, even when it doesn't make sense? BIBLE REFERENCES: Acts 13:14-19, 33-39, 41-46; Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19; Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 13:50-52; Joshua 24:15.
This week we look at the contrast between the way the Kingdom of Heaven operates and the way the Kingdom of Satan does. The path to hell begins when our heart begins to rebel. It may seem to be a small thing, but it determines which Spirit we are following.
Our study of the book of Acts continues with with the tale of two disciples who are captured by the Evil King Herod. One escapes, and one is killed. Why? Why does God seem to intervene sometimes and other times He remains silent. We take an honest look at the story of James and Peter. BIBLE REFERENCES: Acts 12:1-3; Luke 16:10-11; Acts 12:4-19; Psalm 127:1-2; Luke 13:1-5; Matthew 11:2-6; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10.
Our 5th Year Anniversary Service!
Pastor Grice stays (mostly) in the book of Acts. But, he also takes the time to discuss the start of Spirit Chapel, and how its vision has changed over the years. And he also discusses how Jesus changed Peter in the book of Acts to prepare him for the next phase of his ministry. Change is hard! Luckily, we have the Holy Spirit to help us.
This is not the actual service from October 28th. We had equipment failure and lost the service. But the sermon that day was Pastor Grice going back over some recent sermons he preached and adding some details that he originally left out of them due to time constraints. He came back into the Chapel and re-preached the final point he made that day, because he felt strongly that God was trying to teach him to look at the blessings in his life differently.
We pray this helps you in your life too!
[NOTE: There was a problem with the audio of this sermon. We boosted the quality as best we could. We apologize for the poor audio quality]
As we move on in our Christian life, we are always looking for new information. Is there a better in-depth explanation of this bible passage, is there a new way of looking at our relationship with God. What is the latest and greatest teaching available. Are we sure we want all of that? Do you know that you will be judged by what you know? A sobering sermon for those who surf the web looking for “more better” BIBLE REFERENCES: Luke 12:47-48; Matthew 25:28-29; Acts 10:1-2; Luke 7:1-10; Acts 10:3-8, 22; Psalm 19:1-4, 6, 8, 11-14.
No one sets out to get deceived. But once the Devil manages to deceive someone, he is able to get them to do anything. How do we end up deceived? What can we do to prevent it?
When you read the Acts of the apostles found in the bible, do you find yourself asking: “Why can’t I have a life like that?” They have angels guiding them where to go, when they get there, strangers are eager to talk to them about Jesus. Miracles are common. Why is none of that true today? It might not be what you think. It might be that we are longing for Wish Fulfillment instead of what we should be focused on.
Do you ever feel like your Christian walk has stalled? Why? What’s the one thing that keeps most Christians from experiencing the fullness of the Christian life? What is the one thing that keeps the Holy Spirit from being able to work in our lives? That’s what we look at in today’s lesson from the Book of Acts.
The First Church continues to grow. But, as we saw last week, problems begin to emerge. Complaints arise about how some are being treated unfairly. The Apostles solution was simple. They chose seven men to oversee the people in the church. And the qualifications they used to choose the new leaders is a lesson for all of us.
We tackle an unusual story from the book of Acts: Someone lies to Peter and is struck dead by God. What in the world is going on? What happened to Grace? What happened to Love? Why was lying to an Apostle a capital offense? And what is the Bible trying to teach us through all of this? As always… the answer might surprise you…BIBLE REFERENCES: Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:1-3, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Acts 4:32, 36-37; Matthew 16:25-27; Matthew 6:19_24; Galatians 6:7-8; Acts 5:1-10; 2 Chronicles 16:9.
Have you ever done everything right, and still ended up in trouble? Imagine how Peter feels… He’s done nothing except heal a man, and he finds himself being called before the most dangerous court in Jerusalem. But the Sanhedrin did not know what they were getting when they asked a simple fisherman to stand and explain himself. What can we learn from Peter’s bold response?
This week we look at the first miracle performed in the Christian Church. Does the way this miracle was performed teach us anything about praying for miracles in our lives? What can we learn from the miracle near the “Beautiful Gate?” BIBLE REFERENCES: Acts 3:1-6; John 9:1-8; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Acts 3:7-8. Philippians 4:12-13.
Pentecost – one of the most amazing, and most confusing, moments in the Christian Church. This is the first time the idea of “Speaking in Tongues” was seen by the church. What is the deal with that? Was this a one time thing? Is it a pattern for how the Holy Spirit enters our lives? We dive into the text of Acts Chapter 2, and the answers we come away with might surprise you.
We start a brand new series today — a walk through the Book of Acts, Spirit Chapel style. (Hint: which means its more of a meander). This week Pastor Grice introduces us to the characters of the stories, and starts off with an interesting question: If you could go to church next week and meet Jesus in the flesh, hear him speak, and ask him questions — how excited would you be? What if Jesus said you can meet someone even better?
We finish the “Fruits of the Spirit” series by looking at the final fruit: Self-Control. It is the fruit everyone wishes they had more of — and yet they don’t. Why? If the Spirit brings this fruit, why is it that even the most mature Christian thinks they don’t have enough self-control in their lives? As Pastor Grice reminds us: Self-Control is a Fruit, not a Gift, and they are not the same thing. We need to stop treating it as a Gift, and start understanding that this is a fruit that can (and must) be grown in our lives…
We’re almost done working through the Fruits of the Spirit. This time, we are looking at “Gentleness” — what does it mean that we are to be gentle? Is this something that even works in a cut-throat, take no prisoners kind of world we live in today? It does if you understand that God will to give the most power to those who are the most gentle… He wants us to be Spiritual Gentle Giants.
The bible speaks of Faith. A lot. It is the one thing every believer wishes they had more of, and it seems everyone struggles with it at some time in their Christian life. But what if the struggle is because an important nuance was lost in translation?
Kindness and Goodness. Those are the same thing, aren’t they? Then why would Paul list them as separate fruits in Galatians? And, don’t all Christians have this anyway? We take an honest look at some fruits that seem to be all too absent in today’s church. (All of this plus another story of Pastor Grice’s ongoing exploits at Wal-Mart)
We turn our attention to a fruit many of us say we want — but secretly don’t. Who wants to be patient in today’s world? Isn’t that just a recipe for coming in last place? Or is there more to this patience thing than we think?
The 3rd fruit of the spirit is Peace — one of the most misunderstood emotions in our world. From flashing peace signs to wearing peace symbols, it seems everyone wants peace. But no one knows how to get it. Pastor Grice shares a story of how he found peace in the unlikeliest of places — hanging over the edge of a cliff. BIBLE REFERENCES: Galatians 5:22-23; Nehemiah 8:1-19; Mark 10:46-52; Romans 4:18-22; Luke 1:37: Numbers 23:19.
Finishing the 2-part sermon on Joy — we head back to Nehemiah to understand what is meant by the famous verse: “The Joy of the Lord is your Strength.” BIBLE REFERENCES: Galatians 5:22-23; Nehemiah 8:1-19; Mark 10:46-52; Romans 4:18-22; Luke 1:37; Numbers 23:19.
Have you heard that everyone has the God given right to pursue Happiness? That’s true, isn’t it? Everybody knows that: God wants us to pursue happiness. Well, it turns out everybody is wrong. God never said that, and he doesn’t want that. And if we believe He does, we have been deceived… What God wants us to pursue is much better… BIBLE REFERENCES: Galatians 5:22-25; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Genesis 30:13; Ecclesiastes 2:10-11; 2 Samuel 6:12-15, 20-22; Matthew 13:44; Romans 15:13; Nehemiah 8:10.
We want to see God’s Fruit in our lives. In fact, Jesus tells us that this is the best way to honor Him and bring Glory to God. But what if some of the things we believe are actually keeping the fruit from growing in our lives. Is it possible the enemy has deceived us in subtle ways we don’t even realize?
Of all of the Fruits of the Spirit, Love is the most important… and the most misunderstood. We look at what Jesus said about Love, and what we are doing in our lives that is keeping this all important fruit from growing in our lives.
We start our new series about fruit by examining some of the ways Jesus used fruit to teach His disciples (and us) about the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven. One story, in particular, is rather odd… it is a story of a time Jesus cursed a tree, and the tree died. If the scene makes you uncomfortable, it is because it is meant to…
We finalize our series with the main area in our lives that we are letting the enemy have easy access: Holding onto hurts and grudges instead of letting them go, and allow God to heal us. Jesus teaching on this matter is so clear, it gets scary reading what he tells us happens to us if we don’t follow it…
You have all heard “Pride goes before a fall.” That’s in the Bible, right? Well… Sort of. Actually the scripture has a nuance to it that gets lost here. And it is an important distinction. Because if we don’t get this right, it will destroy us.
Many people confess to having problems with their temper. And yet, no one seems to be able to do much about it. We are driven by rage, letting our anger control us, and then apologize later to those we hurt. Except, Jesus tells us, we are supposed to be different. It is by our fruit that people will know who we are. And Anger is not a fruit of the spirit. So, how can we stop this powerful emotion that seems to sometimes run our lives?
Getting further in our series on ways we allow Satan easy access into our lives, we tackle something that runs rampant in America — but is rarely thought about it: Coveting. Are you allowing this opening in your life? Why is it so evil? And how can we stop it?
As we start our new series “Shut the Front Door” — where we look at ways that Satan gains entry into our lives — we begin by looking at the larger question of: “Why do we seem to be fighting a losing battle against the Devil’s temptations?” Is there any way we can see more victory in this area of our lives?
Our (long) series on Nehemiah finally comes to a close. The conclusion of this journey shows us why the wall was built in Jerusalem. And it explains why God is so intent on creating a place for his people to come together.
In the next to the last sermon in our Nehemiah series, we look at the enemy’s last ditch efforts to stop progress on the work God called Nehemiah to accomplish… When fear doesn’t work, he tries spreading lies, when that fails he tries to get Nehemiah to negotiate with the worldly leaders. The attacks are more subtle. And if we want to see God’s work finished in our lives, we need to learn to recognize these moves, and deal with them. BIBLE REFERENCES: Nehemiah 6:1-3; Luke 6:26; Luke 9:62; Nehemiah 6:4; John 15:18-19; Matthew 16:21-23; Nehemiah 6:15-16
Our Special service today has Pastor Grice wondering: Why would Jesus be crucified between two thieves? Was it planned by God? If not, was it planned by the enemy? And what lessons can we take away from this? BIBLE REFERENCES: Mark 15:22,24,26-28: John 11:1-44; Psalm 46; Philippians 4:12-13.
We reach the end of our ten part study of the gates of Nehemiah. This is the final gate for all of us: Judgement Day. But what can we learn from the, and from what Jesus taught about our final days that can prepare us for His return? Join us as we go through Jesus instructions to the 7 Churches...
The next to the last gate in our "Gates of Nehemiah" study, we come now to the East Gate. In some ways, this is a gate of Waiting. Have you ever gone through a period of waiting and thought: "I don't know if I can make it?" This is your gate... BIBLE REFERENCES: Nehemiah 3:29; Matthew 21:1-3, 7-8, 10-11; Proverbs 21:30; Ezekiel 10:18-19; Ezekiel 11:22-23; Ezekiel 44:1-2; Luke 12:35-36; Psalm 119:105; Matthew 25:1-4; Exodus 30:25,30; Luke 11:9-11; 13; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-22; Ephesians 4:26-27, 29-32.
We are moving to the final three gates now. Each of the gates of Nehemiah are gates we must go through on our walk with the Lord. Each teaches us a valuable lesson before we move on. The Horse Gate is no exception. Get ready for battle…
It might seem like heading to the water gate after having been to the fountain gate is simply more of the same… but actually the Water Gate is very different. The Water Gate is critical to our development as Christians. Here is where we discover the most important thing about being a Christian: Who Jesus really is. BIBLE REFERENCES: Nehemiah 3:15; Matthew 16:13-17; John 4:3-26; Matthew 6:27-29, 32-39; Philippians 3:8-10.
After a long and hard journey through the other 7 gates, we finally arrive at one that is kind of beautiful. This is the one most Christians hope to get to. It is one of beauty and power, and one that is shared between God and us — friend to friend. It is the “Fountain Gate.”
We come to the halfway point, with one of the most baffling gates: The Refuse Gate. (And, in this case, it is not pronounced (rəˈfyo͞oz/) but instead: (ref yo͞os) -- as in garbage.) Or, as the Hebrew sign on the gate puts it: The Dung Gate. How in the world can that apply to the Christian Life? The answer is in the detail. And, in fact, if we don't master this gate, our Christian Life never moves forward.
We continue "walking through the gates of Nehemiah" this week. And we come to one that is often avoided by people who don't understand it. It is the Old Gate. Or, as the prophet Jeremiah puts it in Chapter 6: "Stand at the crossroads and look, ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it..." Are you ready to walk through the Old Gate?
Ever come across something in the bible that seems like a useless detail? Maybe you skip over whole paragraphs wondering why in the world it was even included in the Bible to begin with. What if some of those passages we skip over actually contain a blueprint for our journey with Jesus? Join as our Nehemiah study enters “The Ten Gates.”
As Nehemiah approaches his destination, he must have been excited -- over four months of planning and travel has finally led him to the doorstep of fulfilling God's destiny for his life. But before he even arrives, word reaches him that the leaders of Jerusalem have heard he is coming to assist Israel -- and they are not happy about it. Welcome to Working for the Kingdom of Heaven! Don't expect that there won't be opposition. Or as Pastor Grice puts it: Movement causes Friction...
Sometimes the backstory matters. In the book of Nehemiah, the author left us important clues that show us how to be ready when an opportunity comes along, and how to learn the most important part of the planning stage: waiting on God’s signal. Nehemiah can teach us a lot about planning for God’s Vision.